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Digital Stewards

Digital Stewards Training
AMP partnered with the Open Technology Institute, a global leader in using wireless technology for human rights, to launch the Detroit Digital Stewards Program.

AMP and OTI produced a pilot version of the program in the Fall of 2012, then designed a 20-week version which was integrated into the Detroit Future Media training program.

This training prepares teams of community organizers, people with construction skills, and techies to design and deploy communications infrastructure with a commitment to the Detroit Digital Justice Principles. The Digital Stewards learn about mesh wireless technology, which allows neighbors to form their own local network and share an Internet connection. As a result of the inaugural Digital Stewards program, three Detroit neighborhoods are now equipped to build and maintain their own wireless communications infrastructure or “mesh networks.”

Locally the program has trained over 25 Detroit neighborhood leaders to build their own community wireless networks. It also constructed and currently maintains the Cassco.co mesh network in Detroit’s Cass Corridor.

DETROIT DIGITAL STEWARDS NETWORK
The Detroit Digital Stewards are technologists, organizers, Detroiters, activists, and elders exploring and learning new technologies with the goal of supporting community owned wireless infrastructure (wifi networks). Our meetings include planning, building and organizing community wireless networks in Detroit neighborhoods. We are excited to create a space open to everyone interested in learning about and participating in community technology projects.

Digital stewards have implemented community wireless in these locations in Detroit: